You can usually cadge a box from a bike shop, or you can buy one from the airlines at the terminal for around $15. The airlines boxes are bigger, so less disassembly is required.

Get on the web and read the airline baggage pages. They give specific information about travelling with bikes, so this is the best place to find current information.

It used to be quite difficult to avoid exhorbitant excess baggage charges, but the domestic airlines now permit you to purchase extra baggage allowance if required, so there is nothing particularly inconvenience about flying with a bike these days.

I've flown with most of the domestic carriers in recent years. My pick is Virgin.

That's what they do with motorcycles - a guy I knew did this to ship his to the UK and ride a tour around Europe. I think it even went on the same plane as he re-ssembled it outside Heathrow (he had to partially dismantle it). Not going to be cheap though .

That's a good call actually, if you can get it into a crate that is moveable by a forklift, a courier company will deliver it for you. As IP says though, not going to be cheap, but probably the most economical way to do it.

That's a good call actually, if you can get it into a crate that is moveable by a forklift, a courier company will deliver it for you. As IP says though, not going to be cheap, but probably the most economical way to do it.

It'll cost a heap. But try PackSend. Estimate the weight and volume and get a quote online. I used them to send a bike interstate - cost $260 with insurance but the service was excellent and very quick.

No idea what it cost them, but Brian and Shirley Hardy-Rix just recently spent 18 months riding their motorbike around the world (well most of it) and they shipped it across oceans several times. Here is how it left Australia en-route to Chile:

That's a good call actually, if you can get it into a crate that is moveable by a forklift, a courier company will deliver it for you. As IP says though, not going to be cheap, but probably the most economical way to do it.

It'll cost a heap. But try PackSend. Estimate the weight and volume and get a quote online. I used them to send a bike interstate - cost $260 with insurance but the service was excellent and very quick.

rowdyflat wrote:Just flew to NZ whatever you do dont go Jetstar they are the worst with bikes.Charging for excess weight is part of their business model.

Sometimes the cheapest ticket costs more in the long run. I've been caught out by Jetstar before and it cost me $200 in excess baggage charges each way.

Not sure about Jetstar, but both Qantas and Virgin now allow you to purchase an extra baggage allowance at a reasonable price, even at the airport, so no more exhorbitant charges. When I went to EnZed last year I bought one prepayed extra baggage piece for $30 and did not have to worry about minimising weight or trying to stuff heavy items into my cabin bag.